Major changes to annual and sick leave as Employment Leave Bill becomes law

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Employees will be able to accrue annual and sick leave from their first day of work after an overhaul of workplace entitlements.

The Employment Leave Bill passed its third and final reading yesterday, replacing the Holidays Act 2003.

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden said the changes would
benefit workers and businesses.

“This bill delivers on the Government’s priority to replace the broken Holidays Act with a leave system which is simple and straightforward, so that employers have confidence in their calculations, and employees have confidence they are being paid correctly,” van Velden said.

“We’ve already had decades of overcomplicated legislation so now that we’ve finally settled on a simpler path forward, I hope it will be enduring to give businesses and workers the simplicity and stability they need.”